Pet Potty

ABSTRACT

A pet potty includes a base plate and a grid. The base plate has a base and a wall along the perimeter of the base, the base and wall impermeable to fluid and forming a cavity capable of retaining fluid. The grid is sized to fit within the cavity of the base plate and has a complex of beams that can support a pet atop the grid. The beams have a top side and a bottom side, and substantially all of the beams are convex in shape on their top side.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the invention relates to litter boxes for pets. Morespecifically, the invention relates to litter boxes that can be used bydogs as well as cats and that does not require the use of traditionalcat litter material.

BACKGROUND

The following description provides a summary of information relevant tothe present invention. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art to the presently claimedinvention, nor that any of the publications or devices specifically orimplicitly referenced are prior art to that invention.

Cat litter boxes have been in general use by the public for quite sometime, and there are many types from which to choose. Generally, thetraditional cat litter box is a rectangular container with raised wallson three sides and a lowered wall on the entry side where the cat entersthe container. The traditional container holds cat litter material,which is used to attract the cat and absorb cat feces and urine odor.This has worked well for cats, but has not generally been adopted foruse by dogs.

Dogs have traditionally had few options when it comes to relievingthemselves indoors. Traditionally, dogs tended to live outdoors and werefree to relieve themselves in outdoor areas. More recently, dog ownershave been bringing their dogs indoors for several reasons. One reason isthat smaller breed dogs have become increasingly popular, and thesebreeds are suited for indoor living. In fact, they tend to prefer livingindoors in close relationship with their owners.

Another reason for this shift in the living relationship between dogsand humans is that more and more people have been moving into smallerdwelling units that do not have back yards, or have very small outdoorspaces. This shift from traditional homes with yards to smaller homes,such as condos, townhomes and apartments has not reduced people's desireto share their lives with pets. Instead, it has created a greater demandfor products that enable indoor living for pets, particularly dogs.Thus, there is now a particular need for products and services thatallow pet owners to potty train their pets. There is a correspondingneed for indoor pet potties, particularly those suitable for use bydogs.

As explained above, cats presently have many options that involve usingcat litter inside of some form of cat litter box indoors. Dogs, however,have just a few options when it comes to housebreaking and using thebathroom indoors.

One option is to use a litter box with litter in a manner very similarto what cats use. The problem with such litter boxes for dogs is thatdogs like to bury their waste, which results in litter being flung allover the room in which the litter box is placed. In addition, puppies,and some dogs, tend to eat the litter, which is very unhealthy and canlead to serious digestive and other health problems.

Another option is to lay newspaper or other suitable paper product onthe floor and housetrain the dog to use it exclusively. The problem withsuch an approach is that most paper products don't absorb urine verywell, and they tend to leak through to the floor. Moreover, dogs tend tostep in the urine on the newspaper and track it all over the house withtheir paws. Another problem is that puppies tend to tear the paper intoshreds and create a big mess all over the house.

To address these deficiencies in newspaper use, absorbent pads have beencreated. These pads tend to have one or more layers of absorbentmaterial and a backing layer of material that is impervious to fluid soas to prevent urine from leaking through to the floor beneath the pad.The problem with these absorbent pads, however, is threefold: (1)puppies tend to tear them to shreds as they do with paper products; (2)in their attempt to bury their waste dogs tend to fling the pads out ofposition and scatter them around so that they are not useful after oneuse; and (3) the pads do not absorb the urine quickly enough so thatdogs tend to track the urine around the house with their paws afterstepping in it just after urinating.

Another solution has been to use large crates that house artificialgrass or real sod that is periodically replaced. There are severalcompanies that make various versions of such a product. The problemswith that solution are threefold: (1) the artificial grass or sod mustbe replaced every week or two weeks at most, and even then there is abuildup in odor; (2) these crates tend to be very expensive and can costbetween $150 to $600 just for the crate and the first installation ofsod; and (3) the replacement sod or grass is also very expensive andresults in recurring costs over the entire lifetime of the product.

Another solution has been the creation of an indoor dog potty that canhold absorbent pads or newspapers in a manner inaccessible to dogs. Onesuch type of dog potty is made of a rectangular base plate fitted with aunitary removable grid. The base plate can hold a newspaper or absorbentpad inside with the grid placed atop the newspaper or absorbent pad. Thedog goes to the bathroom atop the grid and the pee passes through thegrid to the newspaper or absorbent pad below. The problem with such aproduct is that the unitary grids tend to be large and difficult tohandle and clean. In addition, the grids are often made from lightinglouver material or other material and may not be suited for all dogs'paws.

Thus, there is a need for an affordable, safe, convenient, and clean petpotty that can be used to housetrain pets and provide them with a meansto relieve themselves indoors. The present invention solves all of theaforementioned problems associated with current housetraining and indoorpotty devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment, a pet potty includes a base plate anda grid. The base plate has a base and a wall along the perimeter of thebase, the base and wall being impermeable to fluid and forming a cavitycapable of retaining fluid. The grid is sized to fit within the cavityof the base plate and has a complex of beams that can support a pet atopthe grid. The beams have a top side and a bottom side, and substantiallyall of the beams are convex in shape on their top side.

In accordance with another embodiment, a pet potty includes a base plateand two or more grids. The base plate has a base and a wall along theperimeter of the base, the base and wall being impermeable to fluid andforming a cavity capable of retaining fluid. The two or more grids aresized to fit within the cavity of the base plate such that when thegrids are placed in the cavity the grids are substantially immovable inany horizontal direction. The grids each have a complex of beams thatcan support a pet atop the grid. The beams have a top side and a bottomside, and substantially all of the beams are convex in shape on theirtop side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing more particular description thereof, presented in conjunctionwith the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pet potty in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the pet potty depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the pet potty depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of one of the grids of the pet potty depicted inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a side view of the grid through lines A-A in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the grid through lines B-B in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional close-up view of a portion of the griddepicted in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pet potty depicted in FIG. 1 with araised drainage attachment.

FIG. 7A shows a side cut-out view of one of the grids of the pet pottydepicted in FIG. 1 with a series of disposable layers adhered to thegrid.

FIG. 7B shows one of the disposable layers of FIG. 7A being peeled offthe grid.

FIG. 8 shows a three-dimensional close-up view of a portion of the griddepicted in FIG. 4 with one of the disposable layers depicted in FIGS.7A and 7B being peeled off the grid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The pet potty systems depicted herein can be used to housetrain and actas an indoor potty for dogs and cats. They are, however, particularlysuitable for dogs.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a pet potty 100 in accordance with one embodimentdepicts a rectangular base plate 110 fitted with a double grid systemhaving grids 150 and 160. The grids 150 and 160 are removable from thebase plate 110. When the grids 150 and 160 are positioned in the baseplate 110 the grids fit snuggly in the base plate such that there islittle or no movement in any horizontal direction between the grids 150and 160 and the base plate 110. The grids are capable of supporting theweight of any breed of dog.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base plate 110 is formed of a base 111surrounded on its perimeter by a raised wall 114. A raised wall 114extending upward from the base 111 forms a cavity 115 in the base plate110. The wall is preferably about ¾ of an inch tall, but can be frombetween about ¼ of an inch tall to about 3 inches tall. The grids 150and 160 fit snuggly within the cavity 115. The grids 150 and 160 can beremoved from the base plate 110 by lifting them vertically upward.Finger ports 157 are provided for this purpose and are positioned on theouter sides of each of the grids 150 and 160. The grids 150 and 160 aremirror images of each other. The finger ports 157 are placed on theouter sides of the grids 150 and 160, because there is less likelihoodof the outer edges of the grids 150 and 160 being covered with feces.

The grids 150 and 160 each have a number of spacers 155 along the threeouter sides 156 of the grids 150 and 160. There are no spacers along theside 158 of the grids 150 and 160 that touch each other. The spacers 155form a space between the outer sides 156 of the grids 150 and 160 andthe wall 114 of the base plate 110. The spacers 155 ensure that there isno horizontal movement between the grids 150 and 160 and the base plate110 when the grids 150 and 160 are positioned inside the cavity 111 ofthe base plate 110. As best shown in FIG. 3, the spacing between thegrids 150 and 160 and the wall 114 of the base plate 110 established bythe spacers 155 also makes it easier to grip the finger ports 157 withtwo fingers. Alternatively, the grids can be sized exactly to fit thecavity 115 of the base plate 110. As best shown in FIG. 3, there is nospace between the inner sides 158 of the grids, which touch each other.

The base 111 has a plurality of upwardly projecting bumps 116 formedthereon. The bumps 116 are curved, but can be of any shape and size. Thebumps 116 help to stabilize the base 111 and prevent it from warpingduring the manufacturing process or over time.

FIG. 4 depicts grid 150 as an example. Each structure and element ofgrid 150 is mirrored in grid 160. Grid 150 is formed by a complex ofbeams 165 that are interconnected within the boundaries of the outeredges 156 and 158 of the grid 150. The beams 165 of grid 150 aresupported by edges 156 and 158, which extend downward a distance x fromthe beams 165 of the grid 150, and by a plurality of columns 170, whichalso extend downward a same distance x from the beams 165. The distancex is preferably about ¾ of an inch, but can be anywhere from about ¼ ofan inch to about 3 inches. There can be as few as one column 170supporting the beams 165 and as many as fifty columns 170 supporting thebeams. Preferably, there are at least five columns 170 supporting thebeams, as shown in FIG. 4.

As best shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the beams 165 have a top side 167 anda bottom side 168. The bottom side 168 of the beams 165 do not extenddownward the same distance x as the columns 170 and edges 156 and 158 ofthe grid 150. Therefore, the bottom side 168 of the beams 165 do nottouch the base 111 of the base plate 110 (both shown in phantom in FIGS.4A and 4B).

As best shown in FIGS. 4A and 5, the bottom side 168 of the beams 165can be flat, concave, convex, or any shape. The top side 167 of thebeams 165 can be convex (i.e., slightly rounded) in shape. The convexshape of the top side 167 of the beams 165 helps to cushion the paw padsof dogs and cats. The beams 165 are at least 0.15 inches thick (as shownin distance z in FIG. 5), which further ensures the safety and comfortof dogs' and cats' paw pads. As shown in FIG. 5, there are holes oropenings between the beams, and the beams 165 are separated by adistance y across the openings between the beams 165. This distance ybetween the beams 165 is preferably no greater than about ⅜ of an inch.In any case, distance y is less than ⅝ of an inch. The small distancebetween the beams reduces the risk that the smallest paw pads of thesmallest dog breeds gets stuck inside of the openings between the beams165 rather than being supported atop the beams 165.

An additional feature of the pet potty 100 can be a series 200 ofprotective disposable layers of material 210 adhered atop the grids 150and 160. This feature is best shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8. Eachdisposable layer 210 is made of at least one layer having adhesivematerial on the bottom side 212 and non-adhesive material on the topside 214. Alternatively, each disposable layer 210 can be made of twolayers of material, a top layer 214 and a bottom layer 212. The toplayer 212 does not have an adhesive, and the bottom layer 214 has anadhesive. The bottom layer 214 (or bottom side) of each disposable layer210 adheres to the top layer 212 (or top side) of the disposable layer210 below it. As shown in FIGS. 7B and 8, each disposable layer 210 canbe periodically removed after it is soiled by the pet revealing a cleandisposable layer 210 below it. The series of protective disposablelayers 200 can be provided in packets of two, three, four, five, six,seven, eight, nine, ten, or more disposable layers 210. The series ofdisposable layers 200 preferably has the same general shape anddimensions of the grids 150 and 160 and the length and width of eachadhesive layer 210 of the series of disposable layers 200 is generallythe same as the beams 165 of the grids 150 and 160.

The pet potty 100 is depicted in the figures as being rectangular, butit can be round, oval, square, or any shape that provides enough spacefor a dog or cat to sit atop and relieve herself or himself. Forexample, it can be shaped like a bone or a fire hydrant or any otherfanciful shape. In one embodiment, such as that shown in the figuresherein, the pet potty 100 is about 19 inches in width (shown as W inFIG. 3) by about 26 inches in length (shown as L in FIG. 3), and thecavity 115 or elimination space can be about 16 inches in width by about24 inches in length. In other rectangular embodiments, the pet potty 100can be about 14 inches in width and 19 inches in length with a cavity orelimination space of about 12 inches in width and 15.5 inches in length.

The grids 150 and 160 can also be of any size or shape. In theembodiment shown in the figures, the grids can be about 12 inches inlength by about 16 inches in width each. In yet another embodiment (notshown in the figures), the pet potty can have one large single grid thatis about 24 inches in length by about 16 inches in width, rather thanhaving a double grid system such as that shown in the figures.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pet potty 100 can be fitted with a raiseddrainage attachment 300. The raised drainage attachment 300 can best beutilized by male dogs that raise their legs when they urinate. Thedrainage attachment 300 can have three walls, leaving an opening alongone of the long sides of the pet potty 100 so that the dog has a way toget on the pet potty. Alternatively, the raised drainage attachment 300can have just one wall, preferably along one of the long sides of thepet potty 100. The three walls of the drainage attachment 300 can be ofa unibody construction made from a single mold. Alternatively, thedrainage attachment 300 can be constructed by attaching the three wallstogether through various types of attachments that are known in the art.Each wall of the drainage attachment 300 has an internal side 315 facingthe pet potty 100, and an external side 320 facing outward and away fromthe pet potty 100. The bottom edge of the internal side 315 of the wallsforms a drainage lip 310. The drainage lip 310 extends laterally inwardtoward the cavity 115 of the base plate 110 of the pet potty 100. Thedrainage lip 310 extends just over the internal edge of the perimeterwall 114 of the pet potty such that fluid that drains down the internalwalls of the drainage attachment 300 flows into the cavity 115 of thebase plate 110 of the pet potty 100. A retention lip (not shown) canextend inwardly from the bottom edge of the external wall 320 and underthe bottom of the base plate 110. The retention lip can be used tofirmly secure the drainage attachment 300 to the pet potty 100. Thedrainage attachment 300 can be attached to the pet potty 100 by slidingthe pet potty into the groove formed between the bottom of the drainagelip 310 and the top of the retention lip (not shown). The height of thedrainage attachment 300 can be any height between about four inches andabout twenty-four inches, preferably between about twelve inches andabout eighteen inches, and preferably about sixteen inches.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that this invention is not limited to these embodimentsand that various changes and modifications may be effected therein bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

1. A pet potty comprising: a base plate comprising a base and a wallalong the perimeter of the base, the base and wall impermeable to fluidand forming a cavity capable of retaining fluid; and two or more gridsthat are sized to fit within the cavity of the base plate such that whenthe grids are placed in the cavity the grids are substantially immovablein any horizontal direction; wherein each grid comprises a complex ofbeams that can support a pet atop the grid, wherein the beams have a topside and a bottom side, and wherein substantially all of the beams areconvex in shape on their top side.
 2. The pet potty of claim 1, whereinthe bottom side of the beams do not touch the base when the grids arepositioned in the cavity of the base plate.
 3. The pet potty of claim 1,wherein the beams of the grids are supported by a plurality of columnsthat extend downward from the bottom side of the beams toward the base,and wherein the columns touch the base when the grids are positioned inthe cavity of the base plate.
 4. The pet potty of claim 2, wherein thebeams of the grids are supported by a plurality of columns that extenddownward from the bottom side of the beams toward the base, and whereinthe columns touch the base when the grids are positioned in the cavityof the base plate.
 5. The pet potty of claim 1, wherein each gridcomprises a finger port along an edge of the grid for removing the gridfrom the base plate.
 6. The pet potty of claim 1, wherein each gridcomprises a plurality of spacers extending laterally from the grid,wherein the spacers space the grid a distance from the wall of the baseplate.
 7. The pet potty of claim 1, wherein the complex of beams formopenings between the beams, and wherein the openings are no more than ⅜of an inch across the opening.
 8. The pet potty of claim 7, wherein theopenings are round, elliptical, or polygonal.
 9. The pet potty of claim1, further comprising a raised wall around part of the perimeter of thebase plate.
 10. The pet potty of claim 9, wherein the raised wall has adrainage lip that extends laterally from the raised wall toward thecavity of the base plate, such that when fluid drains down the raisedwall, it drains into the cavity from the drainage lip.
 11. A pet pottycomprising: a base plate comprising a base and a wall along theperimeter of the base, the base and wall impermeable to fluid andforming a cavity capable of retaining fluid; and a grid that is sized tofit within the cavity of the base plate, said grid comprising a complexof beams that can support a pet atop the grid, wherein the beams have atop side and a bottom side, and wherein substantially all of the beamsare convex in shape on their top side.
 12. The pet potty of claim 11,wherein the bottom side of the beams do not touch the base when the gridis positioned in the cavity of the base plate.
 13. The pet potty ofclaim 11, wherein the beams of the grid are supported by a plurality ofcolumns that extend downward from the bottom side of the beams towardthe base, and wherein the columns touch the base when the grid ispositioned in the cavity of the base plate.
 14. The pet potty of claim12, wherein the beams of the grid are supported by a plurality ofcolumns that extend downward from the bottom side of the beams towardthe base, and wherein the columns touch the base when the grid ispositioned in the cavity of the base plate.
 15. The pet potty of claim11, wherein the grid comprises a finger port along an edge of the gridfor removing the grid from the base plate.
 16. The pet potty of claim11, wherein the grid comprises a plurality of spacers extendinglaterally from the grid, wherein the spacers space the grid a distancefrom the wall of the base plate.
 17. The pet potty of claim 11, whereinthe complex of beams form openings between the beams, and wherein theopenings are no more than ⅜ of an inch across the opening.
 18. The petpotty of claim 17, wherein the openings are round, elliptical, orpolygonal.
 19. The pet potty of claim 11, further comprising a raisedwall around part of the perimeter of the base plate.
 20. The pet pottyof claim 19, wherein the raised wall has a drainage lip that extendslaterally from the raised wall toward the cavity of the base plate, suchthat when fluid drains down the raised wall, it drains into the cavityfrom the drainage lip.